Packaged sterile adhesive dressing

Abstract

An adhesive dressing comprises a backing layer having a pressure sensitive adhesive layer over one surface thereof, a removable protector comprising two parts which covers the adhesive layer and extends beyond the backing layer at one or more edges and a conformable, support layer which is reversibly attached to the non-adhesive surface of the backing layer and extends beyond the backing layer at one or more of said edges. The product comprises two parts, the first being V-shaped and having portion extending away from the adhesive surface while the second part, also has a portion extending away from the adhesive surface and which overlies the V-shaped part.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A packaged sterile dressing comprising a sterile adhesive dressing within a bacteria-proof package which dressing comprises a backing layer having a pressure sensitive adhesive layer over one surface thereof, a removable protector which covers the adhesive layer and extends beyond the backing layer at one or more edges and a conformable support layer which is reversibly attached to the non-adhesive surface of the backing layer and extends beyond the backing layer at one or more of said edges, wherein said protector comprises first and second parts, the first part having a portion extending away from the adhesive surface and bent back to form a V-shape and the second part having a portion extending away from the adhesive surface and overlying the V-shaped first part. 
     
     
       2. A dressing according to claim 1 wherein the support layer is a transparent sheet material. 
     
     
       3. A dressing according to claim 1, wherein said second protector part covers a major part of the adhesive layer. 
     
     
       4. A dressing according to claim 1, wherein at least one end of the ends of the first part of the protection sheet extends beyond the edge of the backing layer.   
     
     
       5. A dressing according to claim 4 wherein both ends of the first part of the protector extends beyond the edge of the backing layer. 
     
     
       6. A dressing according to claim 1, wherein the overlying portion of the second part of the protector extends beyond the edge of the backing layer.   
     
     
       7. A dressing according to claim 1, wherein the protector extends beyond opposed edges of the backing layer.   
     
     
       8. A dressing according to claim 1, wherein the support layer extends beyond the edge of the backing layer further than the protector extends beyond the edge of the backing layer. 
     
     
       9. A dressing according to claim 1, in which the backing layer is moisture vapour permeable.   
     
     
       10. A dressing according to claim 9 wherein the backing layer has a moisture vapour transmission rate of at least 1200 gm -2 . 
     
     
       11. A dressing according to claim 1, wherein the backing layer is a film of polyester of polyether polyurethane, an elastomeric polyether polyester or polyether polyamide.   
     
     
       12. A dressing according to claim 1, in which the backing layer is a sheet of a hydrophilic polyurethane.   
     
     
       13. A dressing according to claim 1, wherein the support layer is formed from a polymeric film or coated paper. 
     
     
       14. A dressing according to claim 13 wherein the polymeric film is a polyethylene or polypropylene film. 
     
     
       15. A packaged sterile dressing according to claim 1 wherein the support layer, the backing layer and the adhesive layer are each transparent whereby a wound or catheter site can be viewed through the dressing following the removal of protector. 
     
     
       16. A packaged sterile dressing according to claim 1 which consists essentially of a backing layer having a pressure sensitive adhesive layer over one surface thereof, a removable protector which covers the adhesive layer and a conformable support layer. 
     
     
       17. A packaged sterile dressing according to claim 1 which consists essentially of a transparent backing layer having a transparent pressure sensitive adhesive layer over one surface thereof, a removable protector which covers the transparent adhesive layer and extends beyond the backing layer at one or two edges and a transparent conformable support layer which is reversibly attached to the non-adhesive surface of the backing layer. 
     
     
       18. A packaged sterile dressing according to claim 16 wherein the backing layer is from 20 to 80 μm thick and the adhesive layer is from 20 to 40 μm thick. 
     
     
       19. A packaged sterile dressing according to claim 1 wherein the stripping load of the support layer from the backing layer is greater than that of the protector from the backing layer. 
     
     
       20. A packaged sterile dressing according to claim 1 wherein the protector extends less beyond an edge of the backing layer than the corresponding support layer.